Stylus materials influence contact behavior, stiffness, mass and the practical construction of a measurement configuration. Material choice should be considered together with geometry and application requirements.
Contact materials
The contact element is the part of the stylus that touches the workpiece. Ruby is a common general-purpose contact material, while other materials may be selected for particular applications.
Contact material should not be chosen from hardness alone; workpiece material, scanning conditions and measurement strategy can also matter.
Stem materials
The stem connects the contact element to the threaded or supporting portion of the stylus. Steel, ceramic and carbon-fibre constructions can provide different combinations of diameter, stiffness, mass and usable length.
Longer configurations
As reach increases, the stem becomes a more important part of the overall mechanical configuration. A long stylus should be considered in terms of stiffness, clearance, mass and the probe system being used.
Application-specific selection
There is no single material that is optimal for every measurement. Use the workpiece, access requirement, probe system and required configuration as the basis for selection.